Friday, October 15, 2010

Hello, and welcome to my blog! We'll use this forum throughout the year as a way to encourage discussion between all students, leaving behind the boundaries and borders of the traditional classroom: hopefully this blog will bring together students from a variety of background experiences, personalities, thought processes, etc.

THE OBJECTIVEFor our first assignment, we're going to create a virtual database. Each student will research a topic related to the time period and/or content of Harper Lee's novel, synthesize the information, and report in the form of a blog response. By the time we are done, we will have created a veritable research library of our own. Anyone interested in studying the important people, places, and events related to TKAM need look no further than our own blog!

THE RESOURCESUsing the credible resources available through the library's website (NOT GOOGLE!!!), each student will consult at least two sources to gather information on the assigned topic. Once gathered, the students will synthesize the information and respond through a blog post.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RESPONSE:Your responses must include the following:

1. A basic identification of the subject that answers the journalistic questions of "who, what, where, when, why, and how."

2. A more complex explanation that includes the significance of this particular person, place, or event.

For example:Why does this topic remain important after all of these years?What is the ongoing effect or relevance of this topic?What trends, patterns, or themes of the time period are reflected in this topic? (Injustice, Innovation, Peaceful Resistance, etc.)How does this topic relate to the novel?

3. Internal citations that identify the two sources from which you gathered your information. For example, you might include a sentence like "According to Facts on File, Medgar Evers fought for...". A works cited page is not required to document these sources, though.

4. A reflection of Advanced Placement work, not simply getting by with the least amount of work possible but striving to give the best and most thorough explanations possible. Responses should be at least 8 sentences long, but they certainly may be longer in order to provide ample information on the topic. According to our usual practices, responses must be written in complete sentences with correct use of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Note: Students may want to compose their responses in a word processing document, then cut and paste the completed writing into the response window.

5. Students should respond to their individual class period's post. Also, each student should sign his or her post with first name, last initial and class period; for example: Susan K, Period 1.

THE DUE DATEPosts must be added by the time your come to school on Wednesday, October 20. This assignment counts as a quiz grade.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Hello, and welcome to my blog! We'll use this forum throughout the year as a way to encourage discussion between all students, leaving behind the boundaries and borders of the traditional classroom: hopefully this blog will bring together students from a variety of background experiences, personalities, thought processes, etc.

THE OBJECTIVEFor our first assignment, we're going to create a virtual database. Each student will research a topic related to the time period and/or content of Harper Lee's novel, synthesize the information, and report in the form of a blog response.By the time we are done, we will have created a veritable research library of our own. Anyone interested in studying the important people, places, and events related to TKAM need look no further than our own blog!

THE RESOURCESUsing the credible resources available through the library's website (NOT GOOGLE!!!), each student will consult at least two sources to gather information on the assigned topic. Once gathered, the students will synthesize the information and respond through a blog post.

THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RESPONSE:Your responses must include the following:

1. A basic identification of the subject that answers the journalistic questions of "who, what, where, when, why, and how."

2. A more complex explanation that includes the significance of this particular person, place, or event. For example:

Why does this topic remain important after all of these years?

What is the ongoing effect or relevance of this topic?

What trends, patterns, or themes of the time period are reflected in this topic? (Injustice, Innovation, Peaceful Resistance, etc.)

How does this topic relate to the novel?

3. Internal citations that identify the two sources from which you gathered your information. For example, you might include a sentence like "According to Facts on File, Medgar Evers fought for...". A works cited page is not required to document these sources, though.

4. A reflection of Advanced Placement work, not simply getting by with the least amount of work possible but striving to give the best and most thorough explanations possible. Responses should be at least 8 sentences long, but they certainly may be longer in order to provide ample information on the topic. According to our usual practices, responses must be written in complete sentences with correct use of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Note: Students may want to compose their responses in a word processing document, then cut and paste the completed writing into the response window.

5. Students should respond to their individual class period's post. Also, each student should sign his or her post with first name, last initial and class period; for example: Susan K, Period 1.

THE DUE DATE

Posts must be added by the time your come to school on Wednesday, October 20. This assignment counts as a quiz grade.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Hello, and welcome to my blog! We'll use this forum throughout the year as a way to encourage discussion between all students, leaving behind the boundaries and borders of the traditional classroom. It doesn't matter which period you are in or who you sit next to: hopefully this blog will bring together students from a variety of different periods, background experiences, personalities, thought processes, etc.

For our first post, I'll ask you to read at least two of the following articles regarding the college essay. Choose any two from the list provided, then respond with your insights, observations, comments, etc. Try to move beyond simple responses like, "I knew that" or "I didn't know that." Instead, reflect on your own experiences and expectations as a student readying for college admissions. What insights do these readings offer on the development of those essays?

Please refer by title to the articles that you read and use direct quotations where appropriate.Each person is required to post an individual response, but feel free to comment upon the observations and insights of your classmates, as well. Oh, please include your first name and last initial as well as period number in your post. I look forward to reading your responses...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Today's in-class essay asked you to discuss the complexities of your 20th century novel, to move beyond an obvious or superficial reading of the text and to examine it on a more subtle, a more critical, level.

Tonight I ask you to apply the same type of thinking to August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." In your blog post, describe three different complexities that were revealed to you throughout the play. Use specific details from the play to back your assertions.

Also, use your post to respond to the comments of your classmates. If one of the Katies or Kates posted something that you agree with, respond to that (Like Katie, I thought that Doaker represented...). If one of the Dylans/Dillons posted something that you had never even considered before, comment upon that! If you find the observations of "one who shall not be named" to be tragically misguided, argue (gently and with all of the compassion you can muster, knowing that your observations are open to criticism as well...) against that perspective, offering something else instead.

Got it? Good! Now get to work...

OH, don't forget to include your name in your response. No name, no credit, no bueno.

Friday, January 8, 2010

I know that one of you is out there, just waiting for me to post this assignment. For that reason, I'm just going to cut to the chase, give you the straight-skinny, get right to the point, or maybe not. You know by now that I am a woman of words who appreciates the intricacies and turnings of language, and I will usually find a way to wax poetic about any topic that presents itself. (You all may consider this lunatic rambling, but you are entitled to your own (misguided) opinion.)

Anyway, here's what I'd like to know: 1. In this year of language and rhetorical analysis, what have you learned? Or if not learned, grown more aware? What have you attempted in your writing and/or reading that you never did before? Conversely, on what do you still need some work?2. One of the things I have hoped for you is a growing awareness of language. So, to that end, include a bit of found poetry for us: a phrase, a slogan, a song lyric, a word, any use of language that catches your eye and tickles your ear.

About Me

"I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills." Oh, that's not me! No, instead of toiling over coffee beans like Dneisen, I spend my days cultivating a different crop, nurturing critical thought and encouraging reflection and epiphany, Pruning back the errant limbs of digression and distraction,weeding away the obvious and superficial,and safeguarding against the presence of doubt and other parasites.